Dynamic Roll Recovery Arrow Symbology for Unusual Attitude Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft display systems lack effective means to assist pilots in recovering from unusual attitudes, where combined bank and pitch angles exceed desirable limits, potentially leading to loss of situational awareness and control.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic unusual attitude roll recovery system that includes a processor and memory device configured to receive current attitude data, determine roll angle correction directions, and generate display commands for a display device to render alert symbology, such as a curved arrow with dynamic tracing, indicating the direction for roll angle correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional attitude indicators are used to display aircraft orientation, then basic pitch and bank information is provided, but the system lacks effective means to assist pilots in recovering from unusual attitudes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunusual attitude recovery assistanceVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display system segments the recovery guidance into distinct visual components: a curved arrow indicating roll correction direction, a second arrowhead showing pitch correction direction, and dynamic tracing elements. This segmentation allows complex recovery information to be presented in manageable, intuitive visual segments that enhance reliability without overwhelming the pilot

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a temporal dimension to the display by implementing dynamic tracing where the second arrowhead moves along the curved arrow path. This dimensional enhancement provides time-based visual feedback that guides pilots through the recovery sequence, improving unusual attitude recovery assistance while maintaining display organization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If dynamic tracing arrow symbology is added to indicate roll correction direction, then situational awareness is enhanced, but the display system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesituational awarenessVSAvoiddisplay symbology complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The curved arrow with dynamic tracing acts as an intermediary visual element that translates complex attitude data into intuitive directional guidance. This intermediary symbology reduces the pilot's cognitive load by providing direct visual cues for recovery actions, enhancing situational awareness while the underlying processing complexity is managed by the flight display system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The display system implements dynamics by making the second arrowhead trace along the curved arrow path in real-time as attitude changes occur. This dynamic visualization adapts to current flight conditions, providing continuously updated guidance that enhances situational awareness without requiring static, cluttered displays

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3444570B1Aircraft systems and methods for unusual attitude recovery
Publication Date: 2020.10.07 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3444570B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3444570B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3444570B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle system and method are provided. The system includes a processor configured to compare received data representative of a current attitude with predetermined bank, nose up, and nose down values to determine that an occurrence of unusual attitude is currently underway. Upon determining that an occurrence of unusual attitude conditions is currently underway, the system and method generate display signals that command and control a display system to render roll angle alert symbology. The roll angle alert symbology includes a tracing arrowhead that more clearly shows the direction to recover from unusual attitude conditions. Based in part on the tracing nature of the arrowhead, provided technological improvements are observable on display systems that are monochrome, as well as those with color. In various embodiments, color attributes and confining the dynamic tracing performed by the arrowhead more clearly inform a pilot of the roll recovery direction to recover from unusual attitude conditions.